Lancaster Stereo Instantograph
The Lancaster Stereo Instantograph is a British wood-and-brass stereo plate camera from the late Victorian era, made by J. Lancaster & Son of Birmingham. It produced paired images on a single plate for stereoscopic viewing, a popular format in the 1880s and 1890s when Lancaster's Instantograph series was sold as a general-purpose field camera.
Auction data for the Stereo Instantograph is very thin: the only recorded UK saleroom result we hold is a Christie's hammer of £747 from January 1999, so any view of what the camera is worth today rests on a single wholesale data point rather than a current market trend. Condition of the wood, bellows and brassware, together with the presence of original plate holders and a working shutter, drives most of the value variance for surviving examples.
Sales History
Prices shown are realised prices — auction results and completed eBay sales, never asking prices. Most saleroom figures are hammer prices, before commission; some houses publish a premium-inclusive figure, and we do not adjust for condition. Dealer and retail asking prices are typically higher. How this figure is calculated.
Prices updated: January 1999
| Date | Price | Value GBP | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1999 | £747 | £650 | 🇬🇧 Christie's | |
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Auction: Cameras, The Property of a Collector (Lot 266) Title: Stereo Instantograph camera
Description:
Stereo Instantograph camera Estimate: £300 - £500 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Lancaster Stereo Instantograph worth today?
Evidence is limited to a single Christie's hammer price of £747 from 1999, so a reliable current value cannot be quoted; condition and completeness will dominate what any specific example sells for.
How much does a Lancaster Stereo Instantograph sell for at auction?
The one recorded UK auction result in our data is £747 hammer at Christie's in 1999, and with no further sales to compare it is not possible to give a meaningful current price range.
What affects the value of a Stereo Instantograph?
Originality of the bellows, plate holders and brass fittings, plus the optical condition of both matched lenses, are the main factors that move the price up or down.